House Speaker John Boehner and the Republicans Dismiss Mr. Obama’s Budget Without Even Seeing It

Even When Mr. Obama Proposes Something They Support

It would be nice if those pundits who constantly claim that the gridlock problem in Washington is equally the result of Republicans and Democrats would finally shut up.  If they do not see the one sided nature of the problem after Mr. Obama’s announcement that his budget will propose changes in Social Security that the Republicans want, then maybe nothing will make them view reality.

Mr. Obama is going to propose that a different cost of living factor be used in future SS benefit computations.  This will reduce future benefits and improve the fiscal viability of the Social Security Trust Fund, something Republicans have been demanding and it will do it in a way that Republicans have supported.  But nothing the President proposes, even if it is what Republicans stand for is, will the Republicans stand for.

Republicans quickly dismissed that idea, noting that the C.P.I. change also raises some revenue for the treasury and should not be used as an excuse for other tax increases. Mr. Boehner said that the president had “never lived up to his rhetoric” about being willing to cut entitlement programs.

“In reality, he’s moved in the wrong direction, routinely taking off the table entitlement reforms he’s previously told me he could support,” Mr. Boehner said in the statement. “That’s no way to lead and move the country forward.”

One can only hope that Mr. Obama was not so naïve that he actually expected Republicans to support the policy that Republicans support.  So maybe the President is making his proposal in order to demonstrate to the country that Republicans will not accept yes for an answer, will not work with the President and are only in Washington to obstruct.  If the country doesn’t understand this now, it probably never will.